WHEELING . The Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has re-verified Ohio Valley Medical Center and East Ohio Regional Hospital as level two and level three trauma centers, respectively, because of the hospitals’ dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients.

Hospital trauma centers that are ACS verified undergo a rigorous review to maintain verification status. OVMC and EORH achieved this acknowledgment with no deficiencies, which meant all of the hospitals’ departments have no quality or safety issues according to the criteria set by the ACS’ Committee on Trauma.

“ASC verification is the highest level of acknowledgment a hospital can receive for trauma services,” said Michael Caruso, president and CEO of Ohio Valley Health Services and Education Corp. “This perfect-score achievement recognizes our physicians, surgeons, staff at EMSTAR and in every department affiliated with trauma services were deemed dedicated to providing the best care for injured patients. We are extremely proud of the hard work and dedication all our staff and departments put forth every day to guarantee we are always prepared to provide a high level of trauma care.”

Trauma center verification is an evaluation process done by the ACS’ Committee on Trauma to evaluate and improve trauma care every three years. This is a voluntary process to verify a hospital has a high level of commitment, readiness, resources, policies, patient care, and performance improvement to treat patients with trauma. All ACS-verified trauma centers complete an on-site review by an experienced team who use the latest ACS guidelines.

“This isn’t something we have to do, yet this is something we choose to do,” added Caruso. “This proves to ourselves, the community, and our patients that we’re providing top-level care. Our focus has always been, and will continue to be, on caring and quality as a way of life. The ACS recognizes our efforts to provide the highest quality healthcare possible.”

“All physicians and surgeons at EMSTAR are board certified and have received specialized training in treating trauma,” said Dr. Howard Shackelford, trauma program director at OVMC. “We’re proud that each patient will be seen by a board-certified physician at OVMC and EORH.”

OVMC is a level two trauma verification, and EORH is a level three. The only level one trauma centers in West Virginia are in Morgantown and Charleston. According to the ACS, a level two trauma center is able to initiate definitive care for all injured patients. Elements of level two trauma centers include: 24-hour immediate coverage by general surgeons, as well as coverage by the specialties of orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology and critical care. It must also provide trauma prevention and do continuing education programs for staff. Additionally, it will incorporate a comprehensive quality assessment program. OVMC and EORH have successfully met the re-verification standards every three years since it first verification.

Some physicians and surgeons at OVMC teach trauma education in OVMC’s residency program as well as Advanced Trauma Life Support to staff and physicians across the Tri-State area.

“This verification shows that the well-trained physicians, surgeons, and nurses at EMSTAR are prepared to manage and treat trauma within the community,” said Dr. Robert Cross, trauma program director at EORH.

ACS is a scientific and educational association of surgeons to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The ACS has more than 72,000 members, and it is the largest association of surgeons in the world. Longstanding achievements have placed the ACS in the forefront of American surgery and have made it an important advocate for all surgical patients.